Building Relationships with Students with Special Needs

Tom Board’s teaching experience spans from kindergarten to college, including dual immersion, 5th grade, junior high ASP, and numerous teacher education workshops and presentations. Currently, he serves as a junior high vice principal. His Runner pride runs deep as he holds BAs in Liberal Studies, Spanish, and an MA in School Administration all from CSU Bakersfield. We’ve all known students who seem particularly challenging or unmotivated. This presentation will focus on practical approaches to building relationships with those students in the context of a supportive, interdependent classroom. Participants will walk away with strategies they can begin implementing the next day.With a highly interactive approach, this session will all provide ample opportunity for participants to pose questions and to share their own insights and experiences

Bree Gage

The Dos and Don'ts of Relationship Building

Bree Gage is a faculty member in the Teacher Education Department at CSU Bakersfield. She prepares pre-service teachers in both the Multiple and Single Subject Credential Program and spent thirteen years in k-12 education. Bree’s qualifications include a multiple subject credential, a reading specialist credential, and a Master’s Degree in Literacy. Bree's session will be an interactive discussion on the ways to build relationships with students and families, with an emphasis on recommended practices and pitfalls.

Holli Gonzalez

Communication Strategies for Building Relationships with Students

Holli Gonzalez has almost 13 years experience serving the students of the Delano Union Elementary School District. Her qualifications include a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Pepperdine University in Sports Medicine, multiple and single subject credentials, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Master’s Degree in Advanced Instruction with an emphasis in Secondary STEM Education from University of Southern California. Her experience includes multiple subject assignments in addition to teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade honors and general science classes. She is currently the 7th & 8th grade Science Department Chair at Almond Tree Middle School in Delano. Holli has provided professional development and various trainings for educators in Delano and the Bakersfield City School District. In addition to her dedicated work in Delano, she also serves as an adjunct lecturer in Teacher Education at CSUB. Holli is passionate about providing quality STEM education to all students through the use of technology and showing students that science really does have real-world applications! Her presentation will focus on best practices to develop rapport and positive communication with all students and parents.

For the past four years, Jackie has been working with students in 6th-8th grade as a mild/moderate Special Education teacher at Buttonwillow Elementary School. Jackie is also an advisor for her school’s Associated Student Body (ASB), as well as the district’s LEA mentor for the CSUB Kern Rural Teacher Residency Program. Jackie’s passion for students with disabilities has driven her need to see each student succeed, regardless of where they are on their educational path.She strives to give each student on campus opportunities for academic and personal accomplishments.

Anaya Simmons

Social Emotional Learning

Anaya Simmons has 12 years experience teaching 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade in Kern County. During her time in the elementary classroom, she participated in curriculum planning committees, professional development training, and new teacher support programs at her school. She holds a multiple subject teaching credential, and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Starting in summer of 2016, she will be teaching full-time and supervising teachers as a part of the residency program. Anaya has a passion for supporting, educating, and motivating future teachers in Kern County.